Stories from the Heart

Where Has The Time Gone?  

Maybe it has something to do with getting older, but time sure does seem to go by quicker. I remember when I was young, summer never lasted long enough and school was too long!  

In Michigan, summer began the first week of June and ended the day after Labor Day; we actually would get close to three full months off, which was great. I spent part of my summer on my grandma's farm in Gaylord, Michigan, which was considered northern Michigan.  

I loved the smells of the farm, the cows, horses, pigs, and chickens. It wasn’t very large; she owned a hundred acres right alongside Highway 75. Spending a few weeks there each summer taught me that hard work was good for you. Now that doesn’t mean it was always enjoyable. Getting up at 5:30 AM to go feed the cows and gather eggs wasn’t my idea of a good time, especially the ornery bull my grandma had, who just didn’t like me. And some chickens didn’t take too kindly to me stealing their eggs while they were keeping them warm. But my most favorite time of summer break was home out in the country with lots of woods to explore with my cousin.  

I don’t know how my parents survived without having smartphones to check on us. I’d yell over my shoulder as I ran out the door, “I’m going to Roy’s mom, be back later!” She always hollered back, “Don’t you be late for lunch!” Now that’s one thing a young boy didn’t do: show up late for lunch! My mom and stepdad grew up during a time when kids obeyed without question, and if they didn’t, well, the wrath of God was brought down! And they taught that same belief to their children, namely me and my two other siblings.  So no matter what my cousin and I were doing, when lunchtime came, we didn’t walk home; we ran like our lives depended on it, because back then, it did!  

Building forts high up in trees or coming across some wild blueberries that kept us fed, or cutting trees down for the fun of it, after we had grown tired of climbing them, summers were filled with adventure and exploration!  

But like I said, summers never lasted long enough and school took forever before we got our summer break. Once I graduated, all that changed. Before I knew what happened, college was over, I was living in Florida, married with two kids and wondering where the time went.  Now we have grandkids, about to celebrate 35 years of marriage and time seems to be moving at breakneck speed. It seems like yesterday we celebrated a new year, now it's April. Where has the time gone?  

I think a lot of it is daily routine, we get up and have our week planned out and before we know it, the weekend is here and gone and it starts over again. Which brings me an important life lesson. We should live life intentionally, enjoying family and friends, making and cherishing memories, enjoying each new day as a gift from God, because, well, it is. And like any gift, He wants us to enjoy it, so that when we look back over our life and someone asks, “Where has the time gone?”  we can smile, and honestly  reply, “I don’t have the answer for that,  but what a journey it’s been.”Enjoy it, friends.  

Jesse currently pastors Chokoloskee Family Church on Chokoloskee Island along with his wife, Charity. Their growing congregation keeps them busy with local outreaches and community events. They have two grandkids who live in the area who also attend their church, along with their daughter and son-in-law.